Door fittings: Five of the best designs of 2020.

„The door handle is the handshake of the building„, says Juhani Pallasmaa, celebrated Finnish architect and author of the book „The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses“, which is considered a classic of architectural theory. The elements of architecture are not a visible unit or form, they are encounters, confrontations that interact with memory, Pallasmaa essentially states.

Similar to a handshake, door handles and other door fittings convey an important first impression and give a foretaste of the overall impression a building will leave on us. Therefore, door fittings are one of the most important elements of interior design, even if they often do not have the highest priority in building planning. They must complement and correspond to the rest of a building’s design.

The following door fitting designs reflect what we expect in our modern society not only at our doors, but in all aspects of design: reliability, combined with an awareness of elegance and security.

Back to Nature

As millions of people around the world are now concerned about the environment, sustainability is also a high-priority topic for door fittings this year. From wooden doorknobs to biophilic designs made from materials such as brass, copper, or leather: door fittings that radiate a connection to nature adorn the buildings of 2020. Likewise, muted colors and earth tones as well as natural or recycled materials are becoming increasingly popular for door fittings.

Elegance of Past Eras

Especially in high-end projects, many designs feature elements from past eras—and door fittings are no exception. Special features such as decorative elements and custom-made handles that evoke a sense of opulence from days gone by are common components of door fittings in 2020. However, today’s doors are characterized by the fact that, through the use of modern access technologies, the advantages of modern security technology can be combined with the aesthetics of past eras.

Silvery Brilliance

People’s tastes regarding their interior styles and the materials used in their homes change just as trends do. However, a polished, silvery door fitting will never go out of style and therefore remains among the top door fittings in 2020.

Regardless of interior style, smooth, silvery door fittings will always harmonize with the rest of the building. Made from high-quality and durable metals, these door fittings convey through their feel the sense of being just right and fitting perfectly.

Cutting-Edge Technology

While some designers still prefer door fittings in classic designs, enthusiasm for futuristic designs is steadily increasing. As access technologies have developed rapidly over the past ten years, high-tech door fittings are now very popular among forward-thinking interior designers.

With some of these doors, the „handshake of the building“ will only take place virtually—without compromising the serious first impression. This could be achieved, for example, with technologies such as facial recognition or mobile access.

Antibacterial Door Fittings

In 2020, the world was made acutely aware of the importance of hand hygiene due to the global spread of COVID-19. As designers and manufacturers respond to the increasing demand for products that improve personal hygiene, it is not surprising that hygienically effective door fittings will be used in 2020.

While many materials scientists continue to work on optimizing self-cleaning or even bacteria-free surfaces, in 2020 and beyond, all access solutions that minimize contact and improve hygiene are expected to be in demand.